Changes

Originally developing out of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, Benten was adopted as a deity in many parts of China before being transmitted to Japan, where she merged with a local serpent [[kami|deity]], Ugajin. According to the founding myth of Enoshima Shrine, a dragon menaced the local population until one day an island (Enoshima) appeared, along with the goddess Benten; the dragon fell in love with Benten and agreed to become peaceful and benevolent in exchange for her favor. The goddess thus came to be associated with serpents and dragons, and the shrine at Enoshima came to be established.<ref>Plaques on-site at Enoshima.</ref>

Originally developing out of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, Benten was adopted as a deity in many parts of China before being transmitted to Japan, where she merged with a local serpent [[kami|deity]], Ugajin. According to the founding myth of Enoshima Shrine, a dragon menaced the local population until one day an island (Enoshima) appeared, along with the goddess Benten; the dragon fell in love with Benten and agreed to become peaceful and benevolent in exchange for her favor. The goddess thus came to be associated with serpents and dragons, and the shrine at Enoshima came to be established.<ref>Plaques on-site at Enoshima.</ref>

She is often worshiped as a protector deity, and is often depicted as a figure sharing much iconography with Buddhist entities, including a fiery halo, lotus blossom seat, crown with a smaller deity's head or face, and a variety of objects held in her six or eight hands. Benzaiten is also often associated with a concept of three-in-one, and an emblem of three triangles arranged into one larger triangle (also said to represent the scales of a snake or dragon) is frequently emblazoned on banners and elsewhere at Benten shrines.

She is often worshiped as a protector deity, and is often depicted as a figure sharing much iconography with Buddhist entities, including a fiery halo, lotus blossom seat, crown with a smaller deity's head or face, and a variety of objects held in her six or eight hands. Benzaiten is also often associated with a concept of three-in-one, and an emblem of three triangles arranged into one larger triangle (also said to represent the scales of a snake or dragon) is frequently emblazoned on banners and elsewhere at Benten shrines. Benzaiten is sometimes also said to incorporate within her three deities: Benzaiten herself and the two "demon deities" (''kijin'') [[Kangiten]] and [[Dakini]]; the former is an elephant-headed deity sometimes called Shôten, while the latter is a fox-riding deity associated with rulership.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 198.</ref>

Worship of Benzaiten in Japan dates back at least to the 10th century; statues of Benzaiten and other deities were already present at [[Todai-ji|Tôdai-ji]] in [[Nara]] at that time.<ref>"Tôdai-ji Temple, Sangatsu-dô: Hokke-dô," pamphlet available on-site at Tôdai-ji.</ref>

Worship of Benzaiten in Japan dates back at least to the 10th century; statues of Benzaiten and other deities were already present at [[Todai-ji|Tôdai-ji]] in [[Nara]] at that time.<ref>"Tôdai-ji Temple, Sangatsu-dô: Hokke-dô," pamphlet available on-site at Tôdai-ji.</ref>